Physical Activity on Adolescence 1

Kayla Williams
HLTH639.101

INTRODUCTION

Data from a youth risk behavior survey states that 36% of students reported less than 60 minutes of (MVPA)
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity per day, with 13% reporting less than 30 minutes(). Among adolescents
(<18), physical activity is associated with a number ailments decreased anxiety and depression , improved academic
performance, improved parental relationships, increased self esteem, decreased anger, decreased psychological
stress, lower levels of mental health issues, reduced drug use and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, and
coronary heart disease(). Coronary Artery disease is one of the primary causes of premature death in modern society
(). Lack of physical activity is linked to obesity, cigarette smoking, and effects in cholesterol levels. Habits in
physical activity when a person is young may continue into adult life. The normal behavior of most children is that
they are more physically active than adults. Even with this being said there has been a great reduction in physical
activity among adolescence. This may be due to the lack of safe and secure areas for children to play or the lack of
importance on physical and nutritional education. Engaging in regular physical activity may help to control body
weight, develop a healthy cardiovascular system, and improve psychological well-being(). The Theory of Planned
Behavior provides an efficient way of predicting behaviors such as class attendance, exercise behavior, fitness
development, and physical activity. The TPB also looks into the intention and attitudes towards physical activity().

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of what is known about physical activity among adolescence, their
behaviors, and possible social influences. There will be an examination of prototypes and descriptive norms in
predicting exercise. A study was used to determine if Theory of Planned Behavior predictsintentions to be active.
Subjective norms, and perceived behavior control are also discussed using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The
following five literature reviews will attempt to demonstrate the behaviors and reactions of adolescence toward
physical activity through the Theory of Planned Behavior Model.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The Intentions of Exercise

In a research article by Rivis and Sheeran (2003), two questionnaires were given to evaluate the First, an assessment
of variables and descriptive norms of “exercising (20 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise) at least six times in
the next two weeks” and second, to measure the attitudes towards the intention to do the exercise. Rivis and Sheeran
hypothesize that intentions relating to a health promoting behavior will be strongest among adolescence that has a
lot of friends who engage in that same health promoting behavior. The sample size was 303 high school students that
volunteered to take part, but, after the two weeks when the second questionnaire was completed only 225
participated.

The results in this study did not support the hypothesis that there is a direct connection between intention and
perceived behavior control. A regression analysis was used to predict behavior on the descriptive norms, attitudes,
and intentions on the Theory of Planned Behavior Model. Although, participants attitudes towards exercise were
positive and believed they that the exercise was under their control. The kind of person that exercises three times a
week and were considered physically fit reflected 88.6% of the cases(). These adolescents were considered to be
motivated and healthy. Intentions had significant relationship to exercise behavior at (r = 0.57, p<0.001)().

Even though the hypothesis was not supported, there was good presence of intention towards exercise behavior. The
findings suggested that adolescents’ behavior toward exercise is motivated through the gain of approval or
disapproval of friends and also their friends showing them what is a typical or normal thing to do as far as exercise.
My suggestion for this study would be to simply find out the type of person who exercises versus the type of person
who does not exercise. The increase of knowledge on what is efficient exercise is a good start as a new intervention
and then to test the motivation towards completing a specific task afterwards.

Social Influences on Behavior

 Physical Activity on Adolescence 1
Kayla Williams
HLTH639.101
Although the previous article touched on this topic a little, the next research article by Hamilton and White (2008)
went more in depth. They focused on self and social Influences in predicting moderate to vigorous physical activity.
This included group norms, social support, and that there are various social influences that effect adolescent physical
activity. There are two hypotheses in this study. The first was from the Theory of Planned Behavior, they predicted
that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavior control would predict adolescents’ intention to engage in
physical activity and performance of the behavior. They also predicted, similarly to the previous study, that family
and or friends’ support would also be predictors of adolescents’ intentions to engage in physical activity. The sample
size in this study included 423 ninth grade students, 251 were female and 172 were male. The age range was from
ages 12 to 16. 91% reported not having any disability that would prevent any physical activity(). The participants of
the main questionnaire which occurred a week later included only 395 out of the 423 students from ten different
schools. The main questionnaire assessed the Theory of Planned Behavior’s main elements which were the
predictors of physical activity.

Again a regression analysis was used to test the predictors of intention to perform physical activity but, this time the
hypothesis was supported. Attitude, subjective norm, family and friends’ support showed a significant relationship of
37% () and intention remained a significant predictor of behavior. The results for the study showed support for the
Theory of Planned Behavior in predicting the attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control and the intentions
to engage in physical activity. The two hypotheses confirmed that if adolescents have positive attitudes, confidence,
and stronger intentions towards performing physical activity, they will have a better chance in performing physical
activity on a regular basis. The prediction results were similar for both females and males. A suggestion for the study
is that effective strategies should be used to combat adolescent inactivity to prevent obesity in young children.

Determinants of Physical Activity

In this next article by Kodish, Kulinna and Martin (2006), the focus was on inclusive and non inclusive behaviors
toward physical activity. The purpose of the study was to determine again if the Theory of Planned Behavior
predicted intentions of behavior toward physical activty only it includes individuals with disabilities in elementary
school physical education classes taught by the same teacher. Physical activity is especially important for those with
mental, physical, and developmental disabilities. There were 114 adolescents from 4 fifth and six grade classes, 60
were male and 54 were female, mostly caucasian (74%)(). Each class consisted of 4 autism children. A questionaire
was administered to assess the elements with in the Theory of Planned Behavior and a pedometer to measure
physical activity for one half hour.

Findings show that there were positive attitudes in performing the physical activity (track and field)and that
intentions to be physically active were strong as well. The regression analysis performed again predicted a
correlation in behavioral intention but, this time attitudes, norms, and behavior control were not a significant
predictor towards physical activity. Although, the previous articles used the Theory of Planned Behavior model to
assess attitudes, norms and behavioral control.A henderence in the study was that the only disability was autism.
There should have been a representation of all disabilities discussed earlier. A suggestion for this study is that the
Theory of planned behavior should have been used to study the attitudes, norms, and behavior control.

The next article by Trost, Saunders and Ward (2002), also used the Theory of Planned Behavior and included the
Theory of Reasoned Action to predict moderate to vigorous activity in sixth graders. 198 out of 213 participants of
four randomly selected middle schools all age 11, were given a survey questionaire. The questionaire measured
attitudes, norms, behavior control, and intentions towards performing a physical activity over the next seven days.
Some questions included, “If I were to be physically active it would help me make new friends”; (yes, no, not sure);
“My (friend, mother, father, best friend) thinks I should be physically active (yes, no, not sure)”; “Likelihood they
would be outside of school in the next seven days”. As in the previous studies that included the Theory of Planned
Behavior, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control were proven to be significant, 17% for
subjective norms and 44% for attitudes and perceived behavioral control(). The Theory of Reasoned Action was
used on the subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and intention. There was no distinction between the two,
both predicted significance in norms and attitudes toward physical activity just no signficance in percieved
 Physical Activity on Adolescence 1
Kayla Williams
HLTH639.101
behavioral control to intention to perform a physical activity was found within the Theory of Reasoned Action. The
data presented in the study did not support or reject the hypothesis due to perceived behavior controls similarity in
self efficacy. Self efficacy has proven to be of importance in influencing physically active behaviors in children.

Self Efficacy

So finally in this last article review by Valois, Umstattd and Zullig (2008), studies the relationship between physical
activity and emotional self efficacy. This article used the Center for Disease control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey
for Physical Activity (2003) and a scale for Emotional Self Efficacy (ESE). 89% of high school students from 39-68
eligible schools participated in the study() Items on the Youth risk survey were similar to the previously reviewed
article for determinants of physical activity in middle school children. The ESE scale had seven questions which
included items such as “How well do you suceed at cheering yourself up”; “How well can you prevent from
becoming nervous”; “How well can you control your feelings”; “How well do you suceed at suppressing unpleasant
thoughts”. 2,566 valid responses were observed. A significant relationship was found between not participating in
sports teams in the past 12 months and midrange scores for the ESE scale. As well as a significant relationship
between those not meeting the requirements for moderate physical activity and midrange ESE scale. For all
particpants signicant relationships were found between low self efficacy and the connection to not meeting the
recommendations for vigorous physcial activity in strenghthening and toning or participation in sport teams. This
study suggests that a substantial number of public high school students are reporting to have low or only modest
Emotional Self Efficacy(). The suggestion for this study only would be to add social support for the low Emotional
Self Efficacy scores and the influence it produces toward increasing physical activity among adolescents.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The purpose of this paper was to provide a review of what is known about physical activity among adolescence,
their behaviors, and possible social influences. Through the use of the Theory of Planned Behavior model the
prediction of behavior on physical activity was well represented. As for Regression Analysis it has only produced
positive results for intention to perform a physical activity. The Theory of Reasoned Action was proven to be
similar to the Theory of Planned behavior but, was able to specify behaviors in intention and perceived behavior
control a bit better. I feel that self efficacy is a greater influence on children to determine their level of physical
activity. All articles presented a direct review of the Attitudes, Subjective Norms, intention, and perceived behavior
control in predicting behavior towards physical activity. Suggestions were made that effective strategies should be
used to combat adolescent inactivity to prevent obesity in young children, to include the Theory of Planned
Behavior in their study, to add social support for the low Emotional Self Efficacy scores and the influence it
produces toward increasing physical activity among adolescents, to simply find out the type of person who exercises
versus the type of person who does not exercise, and to increase knowledge on what is efficient exercise is a good
start as a new intervention and then to test the motivation towards completing a specific task afterwards.

Works Cited

Kodish, Stephen, et al. "Determinants of Physical Activity in an Inclusive Setting." Adapted physical Activity
Quaterly 23 (2006): 390-409.
Physical Activity on Adolescence 1
Kayla Williams
HLTH639.101